The only place in the world for legal dinosaur hunting... 60,000 licenses are issued annually!
Dinosaurland in Vernal, Utah, is known as the only place in the world that issues official dinosaur hunting licenses. As the site of the first dinosaur discoveries, Vernal is also home to a museum housing 150-million-year-old fossils and the Dinosaur National Monument.
If you want to legally hunt dinosaurs, Vernal, Utah, is your only option. However, even with an official hunting license, there's no guarantee of a successful hunt.
The practice of issuing dinosaur hunting licenses in Vernal began in 1951, following the idea of businessman Tenney T. Johnson and its adoption by the Vernal Chamber of Commerce.
According to The Museum of Hoaxes, about 60,000 tourists receive these licenses each year.
Contents of the Dinosaur Hunting License
Hunting is a controversial hobby, and even Steven Spielberg, director of Jurassic Park, confirms people's passion, especially when it involves a triceratops model.
It's important to remember that there are rules for dinosaur hunting.
The license states:
"This license entitles the holder to hunt, pursue, shoot, kill, and remove dinosaurs of the following types from the 'Dinosaur Control Area' in Uintah County."
The license restricts hunting to specific dinosaurs:
A. TYRANNOSAURUS REX – Only 1 (adult male)
B. DIPLODOCUS GIGANTICUS – Only 1 (any gender) weighing no less than 5,000 pounds (2,267 KG)
C. STEGOSAURUS – Only 2 (males) of any size
D. PTERODACTYL – Only 4 (without offspring)
Although the license grants hunting rights in Vernal, it's worth noting that "no one has ever successfully hunted a dinosaur."
Fossils from 150 Million Years Ago
Vernal is a paleontologically significant site, hosting the Dinosaur National Monument.
Spanning 80,940 hectares (200,000 acres) from Utah to Colorado, it's known as "Dinosaurland."
The first dinosaur bones discovered here were found by Earl Douglass in 1909.
Since then, thousands of fossils from Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, and Camarasaurus have been found.
You can see some of these fossils in the Wall of Bones and even touch some dating back 150 million years.
Finally, unfortunately, you won't encounter any living dinosaurs while exploring Vernal's ancient lands. Vernal offers a window into their prehistoric world.
Instead of hunting, you are invited to explore and respect the legacy of these magnificent creatures.
Perhaps the greatest adventure is embarking on a journey through prehistoric times to uncover one of our world's greatest mysteries.
